Jun 14, 2011

Lazy pasta sauce would have been a better name for this recipe, this is such an easy recipe and only uses 5 ingredients! On those hot summer days when you don't want to heat up the kitchen and you don't feel like going outside to grill, using your crock pot is a lifesaver.

The best tip I can give you when you make this is to use the best chicken or turkey Italian sausage you can find and a can of Tuttorosso crushed tomatoes, green label. I'm very loyal to Tuttorosso if I am using canned tomatoes, I just can't make a bad sauce whenever I them. Other brands I have to keep adding things to help the taste, but never with Tuttorosso. Of course you may have a favorite brand of crushed tomatoes you are loyal to, if so feel free to use that instead.

I love the sausage I get from my Organic market, it's made with fresh wholesome ingredients and very little fat. But since their is no nutritional info, I am using the nutritional info from Isernio turkey Italian sausage. You could add more stuff to this sauce if you wish, some roasted red pepper would be wonderful, some crushed red pepper if you want more heat or some fresh herbs right before serving would be wonderful too.

Serve this over your favorite pasta (5 points extra for 1 serving pasta) or even over guiltless spaghetti squash and top it with a dallop of reduced fat ricotta for a complete meal. Enjoy!

Brown the sausage in a large skillet, breaking up any large pieces with a wooden spoon. When sausage is browned, drain if needed and add to crock pot.

Clean skillet with a paper towel and set flame to high; when hot add oil. Add garlic and cook until golden but do not burn; add tomatoes and garlic to crock pot along with fresh cracked pepper. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

If you wish, take an immersion blender and blend the sauce a 2-3 seconds to break the sausage up into smaller pieces to combine with the sauce.

Looks great! I hear you on Tuttorosso, and they are my second favorite brand, but mine is Sclafani. They have a blue label that is painted directly onto the can. They are smooth and lovely and my sauce always comes out perfect. Anyway, I'll definitely try this crock pot method. Perfect for the summer in NYC when I can't bear to heat up the kitchen.

This looks delicious thank you!!! Alot of your recipes have inspried me to start the "boyfriend vegetable project" because me boyfriend refuses to eat veggies and no one EVER made him so he is now a 20 year old meat and potatoes guy..... Your recipes look so DELICIOUS that im POSITIVE i will get him to love veggies!

LOVE IT!!! With the hot weather in the South, I'm looking for recipes which require little turning on of the stove or Crockpot, which can cook overnight while I'm sleeping. Girl, I love your website and check it daily. Keep up the good work. I've started to workout, however my eating habits are not lining up. Thanks so much for the inspiration, Tammy.

Made this tonight! Delicious!! My husband even had 2 servings. I had it in the crock pot for 6 hours on low and was glad I got home when I did because any longer and it would have burned...it was starting to stick to the sides. My advice depending on your crock pot is to check it before 6 hours. Love your recipes Gina! Please keep them coming!

Looks great! I always make my meat sauce in a crockpot -- mom's recipe (lightened up) -- but simmered in a slow cooker all day instead of on the stove top. I love the convenience of the slow cooker (especially on work days), but like you, I appreciate using it even more during hot summer months.

I am cooking it as we speak! This is perfect for the eating plan I am on right now! Its almost like a phase 1 south beach diet except even more strict. I used chicken breast sausage so it is extra lean and added some dry oregano and basil to taste. We shall see the outcome! I will put over sauteed zucchini. Thx gina!

Made this tonight, replacing the chicken sausage with lean turkey sausage since my store didn't have any chicken sausage. It was WONDERFUL and a great replacement for the very time consuming and high calorie "meatballs and gravy" I usually make.

Hi Gina, Thank you for sharing your recipes, they are so good and your pics are gorgeous. Loved seeing your daughter, what a cutie! My question is what size crock pot did you use? Mine is 6 quarts and seems like it might be too big or does it matter?

I am currently making it for lunch today. I forgot to put it in last night so I have it on high for a couple of hours. For those of you who have complained about your crockpot. My last crockpot,too, cooked too high. I replaced it with a hamilton beach model that has a meat thermometer http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-Forget-6-Quart-Programmable/dp/B001AO2PXK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310989469&sr=8-1

Have this on the stove now. I had a 20oz package of Turkey Italian sausage in the fridge so......I cooked it all, added some chopped onion w/the garlic, and used 2 cans of Tuttosso tomatoes (I like this brand, my hubby prefers San Marzano). Wanted a sauce less meaty. Would have added some grated carrots if I had had any. Smells divine! Can't wait to eat it!

Just made this tonight over spaghetti squash - I think it is now one of my new favorite meals ! I had never had Spaghetti squash before and I was pleasantly surprised ! The sauce was so amazingly flavorful. I have leftovers for lunch tomorrow ... is it lunchtime yet because I cannot wait to eat it again. Thanks Gina !Valerie

Hi Gina! Is there a reason there aren't any herbs/spices added here? It probably has a lot to do with the fact that you recommend the Tuttorosso brand, but if I just have store-brand crushed tomatoes, do you have an idea of how much I should add of the herbs/spices? I'm thinking of adding some basil and oregano. Thanks so much--your recipes are amazing! :)

Hi Gina! I'm brand new to this slow cooker thing....if I were going to add roasted red pepper, zucchini, mushrooms, or other veggies....do you add those with everything else or at the end? I'm concerned they'll get mushy.

I LOVE this recipe. I made this the next day you posted this recipe and my husband loved it! However, I feel a bit dumb because I have had such a hard time getting the casing off of the chicken sausage. Maybe I am getting the wrong kind of chicken sausage if that is possible but it just seems like it is meant to stay on there and it doesn't want to come off. It takes forever with me picking at it with my fingers. Is there any easier way that I am not seeing. I looked online and most people say that you just slit it down the middle and it should peel off.... well... not for this girl. :o( Any advice?

This a a GREAT go to meal for the week. Leave it in the crock pot and come home to a YUMMY dinner! My husband requests this dinner every couple of weeks! Thanks for all of your great & healthy recipes!!!

made a double batch of this tonight in the crockpot. the house smelled so good while it was cooking. we are eating this for dinner tomorrow over whole wheat pasta. we will only use four servings so i am freezing the rest for another two dinners.

i snuck a taste and it was amazing. i cant wait for dinner tomorrow night. i got the tuttorusso walmart. they were only a buck a can. it was the easiest sauce i ever made. thank you for a delicious and economical recipe.

Delicious! I didn't have crushed tomatoes, so I used one can diced tomatoes and one can sauce. I also used mozzarella-garlic chicken sausage. Both my husband and my five year old son loved it! Thanks once again!